Joins Rocky Dawuni as the second Ghanaian to achieve this International Award
Chicago:- When we hear about the International Reggae and World Music Awards(IRAWMA) and its sustainability for 36 years, we wonder how the event got started and what has made its popularity and fan base rise exponentially high for all those years.
However, just as some great events and discoveries have stemmed up from words that ordinarily have no importance originally; other events sometimes happen by accidents.
IRAWMA and its architect Ephraim Martin just happened to chance upon the award show by a stroke of hard luck that would eventually turn around to become a certainty. As we celebrate the 36th anniversary of this eclectic and noble affair here in Chicago, let us take time to find out and reflect on how the event got started.
On Friday March 21, 1980, Ephraim Martin received a phone call from Rita Marley that would ultimately change his life. Bob Marley, Chris Blackwell, Jacob Miller, Junior Marvin and a female companion were flying in from Brazil to the Norman Manley International Airport in Jamaica. Rita wanted Martin who worked as a photojournalist at the Jamaican Gleaner Newspaper to go over to the airport to cover their story. It was 7 pm and Chris’ private plane would be arriving at 9 pm. Martin ended his day at work early so he could go over to the airport to meet the reggae stars with their soccer trophy.
Upon arrival at the airport, Martin had a brief interview with the guests. Jacob Miller and Junior Marvin had accompanied Mr. Blackwell to Brazil to open and inaugurate a branch of Island Records.
While there for the ceremony, they were involved in soccer match and had won a cup. That was the urgency of Rita Marley's call. Martin had to write about and capture the historic moment of these great men with the trophy.
After the encounter at the airport and some photo ops, Bob Marley and Jacob Miller would encourage and propose to the young Ephraim Martin to do more for the upliftment of the Reggae genre, its performers and their messages onto the world stage.
“You need to get involved in the reggae business,” Bob Marley and Jacob Miller would say.
“You need to help us out and do more for Reggae music. Use your influence as a journalist to disseminate our music and let the world know that in fact Reggae music is big, we the artistes need more respect and therefore deserve better recognition,” they added.
Before this occasion however, Martin’s previous runs-in with Bob Marley and Jacob Miller had been casual over the years through his work as a freelance photographic journalist who covered all sorts of news, entertainment, and other activities for the Jamaican Gleaner.
According to Martin, Jacob Miller had been a frequent caller to the Gleaner and most of the discussions had been centered on how worried he was with the perception and image that some Jamaicans and local media perceive the Reggae genre and musicians to be; in the meantime Reggae was being well received Internationally.
Perplexed, Ephraim Martin wondered why he of all people was the one that these great leaders had confronted.
“Not me, I am not a musician, neither am I an organizer. How am I going to accomplish this feat? I don't know anything about the music business,” Martin shot back.
He had difficulty accepting this request, however, a word from Jacob Miller was all the assurance that Martin needed to consider and perhaps pursue this enormous undertaking.
The following day was Saturday and Martin received yet another call from Jacob Miller. There was to be an official opening of a theater called Zincfence owned by the world renowned Reggae group Third World on Sunday.
Jacob Miller had chosen that venue as a meeting place with Martin to brainstorm on how to begin this innovative venture and to show and display the photos from the airport shoot.
The meeting time on Sunday was slated for 4 pm and both had agreed to it. However, on that Sunday, around 4 pm the scheduled time, Martin had to go on an assignment with the Governor General of Jamaica in Russell Heights for the Gleaner. He stopped by the Zinc Fence left a message for Jacob that, he should wait as he would be back shortly after the assignment.
On his return from the assignment he stopped at the Zinc Fence and was told that Jacob had gone to purchase sugar cane. Martin then left another message that he was going to the Gleaner to turn in his assignment and would be back.
While at the Gleaner, the then weekend editor Ivarol Davis, called Martin and told him that Jacob Miller was dead and he must leave immediately. Martin, thought it was a joke and continued working at his desk.
Suddenly, his editor Davis exasperatedly screamed at Martin, to leave now!
“Stop whatever you are doing. You need to go to Half Way Tree right now, because Jacob Miller is dead. You need to move right at this moment!” he commanded.
“No, Jacob Miller cannot be dead because I am supposed to meet him at the Zinc Fence,” Martin answered.
"Listen to me, you need to move now, if you don't move now, you are out of here." Davis snapped back while pounding his fist on the desk. That was when Martin knew this was no joke. He gathered his gear and headed to Half Way Tree.
Upon arrival at the Half Way Tree , and onto the scene that Jacob Miller had apparently died, Martin could sense the feeling of emptiness in the place. A small crowd had gathered by then. Among them was Errol Thompson the number one Reggae DJ in Jamaica at the time and Marcia Griffiths of Bob Marley fame. Martin walked straight to them and asked Errol.
"What is going on?"
"Jah, Jah, Jah, Jah!" Errol chanted vociferously. Those were the only words that he could find at that given moment.
Martin turned over to Marcia and asked the same question.
"Bwoy, Bwoy, Bwoy, I don’t know, Bwoy, Bwoy!" wailed Marcia Griffiths. Both were at a loss for words as they flailed aimlessly with arms in the air.
Martin went over to some other people on the scene and queried them.
According to eyewitnesses, Jacob Miller had indeed gone on to buy sugar cane. While driving back to the venue where he was supposed to have met with Martin to discuss the future of Reggae music, Jacob dropped the sugar cane on the floor and recklessly reached down for it. In the process of reaching for the sugar cane, he accidentally hit the accelerator and of course with his eyes off the road momentarily, lost control of the car, and eventually ran into a wall killing him instantly.
Martin's relationship with Jacob Miller had suddenly ended. Over the years, they had shared many a story together. Jacob Miller was a rising star and the fastest growing entertainer at that time. Some people saw him as a threat to Bob Marley even though they were friends and traveled together. Now, he was gone, and the only memory of Jacob is a picture that Martin carries with him.
Bob Marley and Jacob Miller's words kept ringing in Martin's ears. Along the way, heavyweights in the genre such as Copeland Forbes, Tommy Cowan and Peter Tosh also had periodically approached Martin individually for him to do more for reggae.
Martin's photo credit can be seen on issues of Jacob Miller’s album cd.
Martin left Jamaica later that year to New York, then to Chicago and continued to freelance. He worked at the Chicago Defender as a photo-journalist. He also freelanced for North American Star in New York and surely, his job for the Daily Gleaner back home in Jamaica was still intact. He sent stories to them for publication.
One day, he received a call from Peter Tosh, who was touring with Jimmy Cliff. They were in Chicago to perform at the Park West and wanted Martin to attend the show. After the concert, Martin got together with Peter Tosh once again. They had been friends over the years and this was a time to reminisce and catch up on old lingering concerns.
Peter Tosh intimated to Martin.
"It's time that you truly get yourself involved in this thing. There is so much going on around the world. From America to Europe and elsewhere, I have realized that there is no respect for us and sometimes people feel that they can give us anything for pay instead of money. We are not going to take that anymore. You need to get involved. We need people like you."
It sounded like history was repeating itself. Jacob Miller was dead. Bob Marley had died recently, yet their words were being resurrected and spoken to Martin by another legendary reggae icon.
Peter Tosh then invited Martin to visit with him the next time Martin came back to Jamaica. Martin returned home and as discussed paid a visit to Peter Tosh. Once again, they talked in length about the strategies and implementation of bringing respect to reggae musicians.
In Chicago, Martin had written an article about a reggae group called the Gypsy Fari. The article declared this group as perhaps the best reggae group among twenty bands in Chicago. Little did Martin know that the other bands were going to launch a protest about the article. They thought Martin had been biased in his decision.
Once the complaints reached full gear, Martin found himself at the editor's office. He wanted to know whether Martin had done a proper research on the topic or this was just a conjecture. Martin decided he was going to put this matter to a closure to this dilemma by organizing a competition among the Chicago reggae bands. Inadvertently, that was the beginning of his involvement in the music industry. He would use the occasion to promote reggae as an art form and a vehicle of expression for the voiceless peoples of the world. With that in mind, the international reggae awards show was born.
Martin had friends and connections all around the world. He used their resources and their expertise in the music industry to help him organize the event. The group also nominated some prominent reggae musicians and writers in Jamaica and honored them for their contributions to the industry. Martin called Peter Tosh and told him about the impending challenge.
The elimination contest took place at the Metro as planned and after a gruesome and fierce competition, the finalists were chosen to compete at the Hummingbird Supper Club. On May 1st, 1982, after all had been said and done, Yabba Griffiths emerged as the winner, with Nyan Como as the first runner up and Gypsy Fari, the cause of all this contest, the second runner up. The first show was a huge success and Martin would never look back.
The second award show featured Yellowman at the pinnacle of his career and various international artists. The first two years, Martin combined the Chicago Awards and the International Reggae Awards.
The Third Awards show was held at the McCormick Place, a venue known for its mammoth size and intimate settings. The show involved Peter Tosh, Freddy McGregor, Comedian GT Taylor, now known as the Dancemaster, Dennis Brown and many others.
The fourth year was a big year and featured who is who in reggae including Gregory Isaacs, Lloyd Parkes and We the People, Mutabaruka and many others. The Aragon Ballroom was the venue and 5000 people showed up to support the foundation. Radio stations from Jamaica brought their DJs to broadcast live to fans back home.
The first five awards shows were held in Chicago. At this time, the show had become very popular. Promoters from around the country and around the world called on Martin for the opportunity to host the event. Jamaica was calling, London, South Africa, Trinidad, New York, Miami and Atlanta all wanted to host the function.
Miami won the spot for the sixth year at a venue called Studio 183. That place sold out in no time. At that time, artist Half Pint ruled the reggae world and was the main artist. Miami once again would be the venue for the seventh awards show.
Chicago got the nod again in the eighth year.
The ceremony in Atlanta in the ninth year was dedicated to Nelson Mandela. The show was dedicated to the " Freedom of Nelson Mandela". Following the release of Mandela, the video from this 9th IRAWMA was recorded and broadcast all over South Africa. Afterwards, Martin had the opportunity to meet and present a copy of the tape to Mandela when he came to the Operation Push headquarters in Chicago after his freedom. The Atlanta show featured reggae greats like Roland Alphanso, Dennis, Marcia Griffiths and many others.
The 10th year saw the show moving out of the US for the first time. Jamaica, the birthplace of reggae and a continuous bidder for the event ever since its inception would be the location. Imagine the local talents and fans that showed up to participate in the awards show while honoring Ephraim Martin, the man that had single handedly at this point been responsible for catapulting reggae into the conventional music status that it enjoys today.
The 11th and 12th year found the awards show back in Miami. In the 11th year, the venue was the amazing Sunrise and Madge Sinclair of the CBS TV -Trapper John MD series fame was the emcee. Third World, Andrew Tosh, Marcia Griffiths and some heavy hitters were on hand for this celebration.
Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History became the setting for the 13th year and artist like Buju Banton, Shaggy, Marcia Griffiths, Junior Tucker all participated. According to Martin, that was one of the best shows ever.
Ron Terry, a TV and talent agent and a friend of Martin based in New Orleans bid for the 14th year award show and won. The event was held at the State Palace Theater amidst the worst flood before Katrina. Not even the flood could stop the reggae-hungry fans that had lined up to see Burning Spear, Beenie Man and others perform in standing water.
Chicago once again would host the 15th and 16th awards show at the State Of Illinois Building.
The 17th, 18th and 19th shows went back to Atlanta. Atlanta had always been persistent in hosting the awards.
South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and a host of other countries contended for the 20th awards show but to no avail. Jamaica would get the nod once again for the 20th and 21st shows.
Thereafter, New York's Apollo Theater, Columbia University, Manhattan Center and York Performing Center would be the venues for the next eight years.
Now comes the 30th year anniversary, and out of the 30+ countries that vied for the show, Trinidad and Tobago got the prize. It was good news partly because the music genres of Chutney and Pan Music were being introduced as a category and for Special Recognition for the first time.
"It is a good time to be in Trinidad at this time, and that is why IRAWMA is here celebrating the 30th awards honoring Reggae, World Music, Calypso, Soca, Soukous, Highlife, Chutney and other forms of music," said Martin.
"We have come a long way and it is the road that we have travelled. In addition to where we are now, we have seen the music grow from strength to strength since we started. When we started, it was common knowledge that in America, very few African- Americans were not exposed enough to the music.
Today, I can say that almost all African -Americans are very much involved and open to the elements to the music, which is now known and supported by fans as many as, 2.2 billion worldwide. That is strength! The influence of this music is so powerful that if we are only organized enough, we can move it farther ahead. It is a trillion-dollar music industry that we are talking about and it cannot be disputed!
We have travelled a long way and so many people along the way have volunteered their services to this endeavor. We are thankful for the dedicated staff and the judges around the world who each year have selected the nominees."
Martin envisions the day when the awards show will be televised live around the world like the Grammys. Last year, the broadcast event reached an estimated 17 million people. This year, the event will be televised live in parts of the Caribbean and elsewhere. Martin hopes people especially from the African Continent will be exposed to the awards show.
If Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Jacob Miller were alive today, there is no doubt that they will be singing praises about Ephraim Martin, the young photojournalist from Jamaica who singlehandedly bore the brunt of carrying Reggae music and IRAWMA to its apex around the world.
Below from left: Top-One Frisson, The Journalist(Berko Akoto), Pauline Berko Akoto Shatta Wale, Ephraim Martin, Hashim(Boogie Down Nima) and Zylofon Reps on hand to support the artist on this milestone.
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